Three must-listens for rock music fans to check out this week

by

Spring is a great time for music lovers! Both popular and up-and-coming artists tend to release a lot of new music as the weather warms up and summer approaches. Whether it’s full albums or individual songs, there’s always something fresh to discover, often giving us a taste of what’s to come.

With summer and fall festivals announcing their performers and starting ticket sales, plus major summer tours also beginning to offer tickets, it’s easy for music fans to get really excited this time of year.

If stockbrokers are skipping work to watch March Madness, I think I deserve a morning off to buy tickets to see Dylan.

Three things to listen to in the final week of March

With so much new music out there, it’s impossible to listen to everything! So, I’ve picked three recent releases that I think are worth checking out. I can’t guarantee you’ll love them all, but I definitely recommend giving them a listen.

“Days We Left Behind” by Paul McCartney

Let’s begin with a short listen – just over three minutes – of a nostalgic track by Paul McCartney, widely considered one of the greatest pop songwriters of recent decades. “Days We Left Behind” is the first single from his new album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, which will be released on May 29th.

The song begins with Paul’s distinctive, somewhat reedy voice accompanied by a basic acoustic guitar. The chords are soft and calming, though not particularly melancholic. The melody is pleasant, as you’d expect, but it doesn’t reach the same heights as classics like “Yesterday” or evoke the same emotional depth as “For No One.”

However, it’s definitely better than the re-released “Now and Then” song, which surprisingly became popular a couple of years back.

Paul often looks back on his younger years – a theme he’s continuing with his new album. He remembers meeting the musician who most inspired him as a child on Forthlin Road, and hints at a promise he intends to keep forever.

Even if it doesn’t reach the heights of the Beatles’ best work – or Paul McCartney’s at his peak – this song is still a lovely and nostalgic piece, especially considering it comes from an 83-year-old artist who excels at this kind of heartfelt music.

Honora by Flea

You won’t believe this! I heard that Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers was totally inspired by Andre 3000’s flute album, New Blue Sun. Apparently, it made him want to revisit his first instrument – the trumpet! It’s so cool to see musicians inspiring each other like that.

I’m not sure if that information is accurate, but Flea, known for his work with Red Hot Chili Peppers, has released his first full solo album, and it’s really impressive. The album kicks off strong with a standout track called “A Plea,” an original composition that stands among the best jazz music of recent years.

Flea’s bass and trumpet playing really stand out, and he’s assembled a fantastic band to support the music. The only slight weakness is that around the middle of the seven-and-a-half-minute song, Flea starts chanting, which feels a little too obvious. While singing isn’t his forte, the music itself is still beautiful.

The album also features some interesting cover songs. His take on George Clinton’s “Maggot Brain” is quite gentle, but its slow, melodic trumpet playing is captivating. He also offers a fresh, dark interpretation of “Wichita Lineman,” featuring vocals reminiscent of Nick Cave.

This album is incredibly relaxed, so if you’re looking for something upbeat and energetic, it might not be for you. However, it has a subtle power that builds throughout, reaching its peak in the funky jazz track “Free As I Want To Be,” another original composition by Flea. The vocals blend seamlessly into the music, adding to the rhythm rather than standing out, and allowing a distorted guitar and warm piano to take center stage.

Creature of Habit by Courtney Barnett

I haven’t listened to all the new releases this week, but that doesn’t stop me from having an opinion. This album is the best one I’ve heard so far. It’s not a surprise, considering Courtney Barnett is such a talented artist. This is her fourth solo studio album—not counting her collaboration with Kurt Vile—and it feels like a different side of the same coin as her previous, well-received album, Things Take Time, Take Time.

This song was made during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it carries a quiet, somewhat melancholic feeling that was common in music from that time in 2021.

Compared to her other work, Courtney Barnett’s song “Wonder” is surprisingly cheerful and hopeful. It’s one of her most optimistic tracks, even though the lyrics actually explore doubts about the honesty of a romantic partner. It’s a bit unusual that this song hasn’t been released on its own as a single.

Waxahatchie, a critically acclaimed artist, adds a country influence to the song “Site Unseen.” Meanwhile, “I Don’t Know Where to Start” is a lovely and relaxed indie pop track.

Despite a gentler sound, Barnett remains a powerful songwriter, right up there with today’s best. The song “Stay in Your Lane” immediately proves this, and “Great Advice” offers a playful, honest edge.

Barnett’s new album is excellent and is likely to appear on many “Best Of” lists at the end of the year – it definitely has a spot on mine.

Read More

2026-03-28 13:00